Written Answers Thursday 5 February 2009

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences of selling alcohol to under-18s have been detected in the last 12 months as a result of the national roll-out of the test purchasing of alcohol; how many of these have resulted in (a) prosecution and (b) conviction of licensees operating (i) on-sales and (ii) off-sales premises as defined by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, and how many prosecutions for these offences are pending.

Frank Mulholland QC: Information available from police forces indicates that between December 2007 and January 2009, 187 reports to the Procurator Fiscal involving alcohol test purchase operations were made, four of which concerned on-sale premises.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) case management system does not identify which reported contraventions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 concerning the sale of alcohol to under-18s arose from alcohol test purchasing operations. In the last year for which figures are available, April 2007 to March 2008, 619 charges under the provisions of the 1976 Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 concerning the sale of alcohol to under-18s were reported by the police.

  To assist with a review of the operation of test purchases, a COPFS study in 2008, using information available from police forces, looked at 69 cases known to involve test purchase of alcohol and identified the outcomes of those cases as at June 2008 as follows.

  

 No. of Reports to Procurators Fiscal
 Direct Measure Issued
 Prosecution
 Convictions
 No Further Proceedings
 Prosecution in Process


 69
 25
 44
 29
 10
 5

Alcohol Misuse

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the reported increase in alcohol-related incidents in schools, what plans it has to address indiscipline.

Maureen Watt: Schools are addressing indiscipline, including alcohol-related issues, through their learning programmes and also through the opportunities for learning and support that they provide for young people.  Curriculum for Excellence will make a significant contribution, and this government is working with partners nationally and locally within this context to improve substance misuse education (covering alcohol as well as tobacco and drugs) in schools.

  This government is also funding the Positive Behaviour Team to work with local authorities and schools to promote and support the implementation of the most effective strategies for managing behaviour in schools. This includes whole school approaches which create a positive ethos and culture of respect and responsibility; prevent and resolve conflict, and address more serious indiscipline or additional behaviour needs.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which community-based alcohol rehabilitation services and programmes receive support.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS boards for treatment and support to address alcohol misuse and it is for each board, working with its partners, to determine which services and programmes should receive support according to identified need.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which community-based programmes to combat underage drinking it supports.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS boards to tackle alcohol misuse and it is for each board, working with its partners, to determine which services and programmes should receive funding according to identified need. Funding for diversionary activities is also made available through the Cashback for Communities scheme and to Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative.

  The Scottish Government is generally supportive of community partnership activity to tackle alcohol misuse and considers that this can play a valuable role in reducing alcohol-related harm and under-age drinking, as well as tackling anti-social behaviour.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much alcohol-related illness cost the NHS in 2008.

Shona Robison: Estimates prepared by Scottish Government Analytical Services put the total cost of alcohol misuse to the NHS at £405 million in 2006-07. (These are the most recent annual figures available). Details of the estimates and a breakdown of the costs are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/222103/0059736.pdf.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Community Alcohol Partnership project in north Glasgow.

Shona Robison: It is not clear which specific partnership this question refers to. However, the Scottish Government is generally supportive of community partnership activity to tackle alcohol misuse and considers that this can play a valuable role in reducing alcohol-related harm and under-age drinking and in tackling anti-social behaviour.

Angling

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the study on economic impact of recreational sea angling will be published.

Richard Lochhead: I anticipate that the results of the study will be published by Easter.

Concessionary Travel

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16793 by Stewart Stevenson on 27 October 2008, whether it will list the disability groups that it has met in relation to the concessionary travel pass, also showing (a) dates and (b) locations of the meetings.

Stewart Stevenson: Prior to the introduction of the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland was represented on the National Concessionary Travel Implementation Project – Eligibility Task Group. The Group met on 14 and 30 June, 26 July and 9 August 2005 at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh. More recently I have met with representatives of the "Fare Deal" Campaign – a campaign involving 12 charities representing older people and people with disabilities. As part of the current review of the scheme a number of disability organisations were consulted about their views on the scheme.

Concessionary Travel

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with disability groups and others regarding concessionary travel companion cards for people accompanying disabled passengers.

Stewart Stevenson: Prior to the introduction of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People in April 2006, discussions were held about concessionary travel companion cards with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, and the then Strathclyde Passenger Transport, as part of the consideration of the eligibility criteria for the scheme.

  The Steering Group currently carrying out the review of the scheme is looking at all aspects of the scheme and considering how it could be improved. All of the above groups, and others, have been provided with an opportunity to comment on the review.

Culture

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture last met representatives of the creative industries.

Linda Fabiani: I regularly meet with a wide range of representatives involved in the 13 creative industries – for example in the last month I have met representatives involved in design, architecture, film, music, performing arts, TV and radio. I have also met with organisations with an interest in the cultural and creative industries such as the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and unions involved in cultural and creative industries.

Culture

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the traditional arts working group that was announced at the traditional music awards in December 2008.

Linda Fabiani: I am pleased to announce that David Francis has convened a Traditional Arts Working Group. The group will make recommendations to me later this year regarding future support arrangements for traditional arts. Taking part in the group will be:

  Ruth Kirkpatrick

  Mary-Ann Kennedy

  Fiona Dalgetty

  Mats Melin and

  Stuart Eydman.

  It has, of course, been a busy start to the year for the traditional arts sector with the hugely successful Celtic Connections Festival. With this in mind the Traditional Arts Working Group’s first meeting is scheduled to take place on 26 February.

Employment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a formal definition of green jobs and, if so, what it is.

Jim Mather: The 10 pledges for a Greener Deal for Scotland, announced on 2 February, make reference to the employment potential for greener jobs within the following sectors: renewable energy, clean fossil fuel technologies, energy efficiency, low carbon transport and renewable heat.

Equal Pay

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by local authorities to address the issue of equal pay.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is not involved in the negotiations taking place at local authority level on equal pay. These are matters for local authorities as independent corporate bodies. However, I am aware that written evidence provided by COSLA to the Equal Opportunities Committee on 7 October 2008 states that 26 local authorities had implemented, or were extremely close to implementing, local single status and grading structures and that the remaining local authorities were moving towards implementation and were at an advanced stage.

Fair Trade

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that ethical, sustainable and fair trade principles are applied across its directorates.

John Swinney: Sustainable economic growth is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s purpose. All directorates are expected to take account of and contribute as appropriate through their policies and operations to the government’s overall purpose, strategic objectives and national outcomes. Fair and ethically traded products are sold in the staff restaurants and are used in the provision of the hospitality service across the estate.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a signed agreement with the Russian Government that secures the sale of Scottish fish to Russia and, if so, whether the Scottish Government will place a copy of the agreement in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it reached formal agreement with the Russian Government on the lifting of its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the formal agreement with the Russian Government on the lifting of its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish was signed.

Richard Lochhead: A letter agreeing that a number of the companies that were inspected by Russian veterinary inspectors could export was sent from Russia on 25 December 2008, allowing exports from 1 January 2009.

  A fisheries memorandum with the Russian Federation was signed on the Scottish Government’s behalf by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 January 2009. This sets out the future terms of reference for the export of fish and fishery products between Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Russian Federation. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47406).

Homecoming Scotland

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture’s directorate will use Homecoming Scotland 2009 to promote Scotland’s creative industries.

Linda Fabiani: Homecoming Scotland 2009 provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scotland’s cultural and creative industries. The huge variety of festivals and events will allow people from all over the world to experience and celebrate with the rich and varied culture of Scotland. For our creative industries, the increase in visitors brings the prospect of offering and publicising their products, contemporary and traditional, to a wider audience.

Housing

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it wrote to community councils regarding the launch of its Householder Permitted Development Rights: Consultation Paper .

John Swinney: Officials did not directly write to all Community Councils to advise them of this consultation.

  An alert advising of the publication of the Householder Permitted Development Rights consultation paper was sent to all those community councils who have registered for the Directorate for the Built Environment’s (DBE’s) e-alert system and those who have asked for hard copies of such alerts to be sent to them by post.

  In the 2007 move to electronic publication the DBE wrote to all parties previously registered to receive hard copy documents by post to advise them of this change and how they could register to receive e-alerts. In addition to a reminder to those parties generally, DBE issued a further letter specifically to community councils in March 2008 which brought on-going planning consultations to their attention and again reminded them of the need to register on the new system.

  The internet web address to register for DBE news alerts is http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/news/e-news.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19109 by Stewart Maxwell on 19 January 2008, how much each council has received from the £25 million funding package for council housing.

Stewart Maxwell: Applications are currently being assessed against principles agreed in partnership with COSLA and no decisions have been reached on which councils will receive funding or how much each council will receive.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19109 by Stewart Maxwell on 19 January 2008, what criteria were used to decide on applications to the £25 million funding package for council housing.

Stewart Maxwell: No decisions have been made on which applications should receive a share of the £25 million to encourage council house building. Applications are being assessed jointly with COSLA at present using the following principles:

  The council has the ability to manage the new stock effectively.

  The council has prudential borrowing capacity and/or uses other financial resources.

  The required subsidy for any proposed development from the Scottish Government will be less than £25,000 per home.

  The area has housing need and the new homes will contribute to the council meeting its 2012 homelessness target.

  The council can demonstrate that it has well developed plans to ensure delivery of the proposed new housing.

  The number of units that are built is maximised within the resources available but not at the expense of having to compromise on design quality.

International Relations

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to enable NHS Scotland to accept medical evacuations from Gaza.

Nicola Sturgeon: The skills of our medical specialists are world-renowned and we are prepared to offer their expertise if needed. Some of Scotland’s hospitals may be able to receive patients from Gaza who require specialist care and I welcome the willingness of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lothian to respond positively to requests for assistance with medical casualties, if need be. However, the number of casualties and which facilities could be used would be dependent on the clinical priorities of the patients concerned.

  Our general approach is to work through Scottish-based Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which are involved in humanitarian work in Gaza, and have a presence on the ground there. This is necessary to allow clinical assessments and evaluation to be carried out in determining whether patients are suitable for treatment in Scotland, and would benefit from coming here, as opposed to being treated in the region or in a neighbouring country.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to investigate the disposals that have the most successful outcomes in preventing reoffending by young people charged with criminal offences.

Fergus Ewing: Preventing Offending by Young People: A Framework for Action (Bib. number 46408), which I published in June 2008, sets out a shared vision of what national and local agencies should do to prevent, divert, manage and change offending behaviour by young people. In the framework we have made a commitment to develop an evidence base around what works in early and effective intervention.

  Over the coming months we will undertake research which will look at the wide range of preventative responses available and their effectiveness, with a view to identifying and disseminating good practice.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it has adopted in deciding at what level to set the age of criminal responsibility.

Fergus Ewing: We have made clear our commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and to promoting and supporting the rights of all children in Scotland.

  Following the recent recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child we are currently considering the age of criminal responsibility in the wider context of meeting the needs of children while managing risk appropriately. These considerations are on-going.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which criminal charges against young people under-16 are regarded as appropriate for prosecution rather than reference to the children’s hearing system and for what reasons.

Frank Mulholland QC: There are four categories of case which must be jointly reported to the Reporter to the Children’s Hearing and the Procurator Fiscal for discussion and therefore considered for prosecution.

  Where a child is under the age of 16 years, and, after discussion with the reporter, the decision is taken for the Procurator Fiscal to deal with the child, Crown Counsel’s instructions must be obtained before proceedings are commenced. Where a child is in custody and the Procurator Fiscal considers that immediate solemn proceedings are justified, the child can be placed on petition and the matter reported to Crown Counsel within three days for instructions. Prosecution of a child under 16 can only proceed in certain categories of cases and on the general or specific instructions of the Lord Advocate. The categories are as follows:

  1. Offences which require by law to be prosecuted on indictment or which are so serious as normally to give rise to solemn proceedings on the instructions of the Lord Advocate in the public interest.

  2. Offences alleged to have been committed by children aged 15 years or over which in the event of conviction oblige or permit a court to order disqualification from driving.

  3. Offences alleged to have been committed by persons of over 16 years, who are under the supervision of a Children’s Hearing and this are children as defined in section 93(2)(b)(ii) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

  4. Breaches of antisocial behaviour orders allegedly committed by children aged 12 to 15 years (although there is a presumption that the Reporter will deal with these cases).

  The categories are further defined as follows:

  Category 1

  Offences which require by law to be prosecuted on indictment fall under two

  Heads:

  1. common law offences which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of Justiciary namely treason, murder and rape, and

  2. statutory offences for which the statute only makes provision for prosecution on indictment or for a penalty on conviction on indictment - for example, contraventions of the Firearms Act 1968, Section 16, 17(1) and (2), and 18(1), the Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 1, and the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 Section 5(1).

  Offences of culpable homicide, attempted murder, assault to the danger of life, sodomy, assault and robbery involving the use of firearms, attempted rape, incest and related offences (contrary to the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 Sections 1-3) are offences which are normally indicted in the High Court of Justiciary.

  Other offences which may fall into this category as being those normally prosecuted on indictment are assault to severe injury or permanent disfigurement, assault with intent to rape, serious assault and robbery (in particular involving the use of weapons other than firearms), assault with intent to rob involving the use of firearms, fire-raising and malicious mischief causing or likely to cause great damage to property or danger to life, all Misuse of Drugs Act offences involving possession of Class A drugs and possession with intent to supply and supply of any controlled drugs.

  It should be emphasised that only offences which are normally prosecuted on indictment are to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

  Category 2

  This category applies exclusively to children aged 15 years or over. Children will be prosecuted for this type of offence only if the Procurator Fiscal considers that it would be in the public interest to obtain a disqualification which would still be in force when the child became 16 and that in the event of conviction it was likely that the court would impose such a disqualification. Minor Road Traffic Act offences carrying a liability to discretionary disqualification should not normally be reported.

  Category 3

  There is no restriction on the forum for the prosecution of children of or over 16 years of age who can be proceeded against in the district court.

  Category 4

  There is a presumption that the reporter will deal with these cases, following discussion with the Procurator Fiscal. Therefore, cases where 12 to 15-year-olds have been charged with a separate offence (section 9(3) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004) should not be reported to the Procurator Fiscal unless the separate offence falls to be reported under another part of these Directions. However, children will only be prosecuted where the offending behaviour accompanying the breach is serious.

  When reporting to procurators fiscal cases against adults in which it is alleged that a child also committed the offence (not being an offence specified in categories 1 to 3) along with the adult, the report should state that a copy of the report has been sent to the reporter for action in respect of the child. The police should not include the child offender as a subject in the police report to the Procurator Fiscal.

  This guidance is published on the COPFS website at:

  http://www.crownoffice.gov.uk/Publications/2004/10/LdAdvGuidOffChild.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Office has issued guidance as to the circumstances in which young people under-16 charged with criminal offences should be prosecuted rather than referred to the children’s hearing system.

Frank Mulholland QC: The Lord Advocate has issued guidance to police forces in respect of offences alleged to have been committed by children which are appropriate for joint reporting by the police to the Procurator Fiscal and the Reporter to the Children’s Hearing.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20253 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Legislation

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages any changes to the law on limitation.

Fergus Ewing: Section 3 of the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill makes specific provision in relation to the law on limitation as it affects civil actions for conditions such as pleural plaques. We are also looking at the merits of changes to the law on limitation more generally; a detailed report on prescription and limitation for personal injury actions is amongst several Scottish Law Commission reports which we are considering.

Legislation

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any difference of approach to legislative consent motions compared with previous administrations.

Bruce Crawford: Our approach is to act always in the Scottish national interest.

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are prevented from assisting businesses by reducing or freezing the rent of local authority owned industrial units under section 74 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers would need to approve a local authority decision to freeze or reduce the rent of local authority owned industrial units to assist small businesses.

John Swinney: Under section 74 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, local authorities may not dispose of land (including the rental interest in that land) at less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained without seeking the consent of the Scottish ministers.

Ministerial Meetings

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met Glasgow City Council’s director of education.

Fiona Hyslop: I meet regularly with Directors of Education at meetings arranged with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES). These provide an opportunity for dialogue on progress and implementation of policy for education in Scotland. Such meetings have included our joint Dunkeld partnership events in April and October 2008, and ADES’ own conference at Cumbernauld last November.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the clinical decision unit at Monklands Hospital is included in calculations relating to the accident and emergency four-hour target.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire have confirmed that the clinical decision area is used predominantly for patients who have been assessed by a clinician and diagnosed as fit for discharge. During times of peak activity a very small number of accident and emergency patients, who are likely to be discharged, are moved to this area. Accident and emergency activity accounts for less than 5% of all patients in this area. All of these patients would previously have been triaged and seen by clinical staff and would be subject to the four hour target. The most common reason for patients using this area from accident and emergency is whilst they are awaiting results of diagnostic tests that take four hours or more for accurate processing.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring arrangements are available to patients moved from the Monklands Hospital accident and emergency unit to its clinical decision unit.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire have informed us that the clinical decision area is staffed by registered nurses with additional support from medical staff. This area is the formal clinical responsibility of the consultant accident and emergency staff.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients were moved from the Monklands Hospital accident and emergency unit to its clinical decision unit to ensure that the accident and emergency four-hour target was being met in each of the last two years.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire have stated that the clinical decision area is not used in order to meet the four-hour target but is used to manage patients appropriately.

NHS Staff

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many physiotherapists are employed in the NHS and how many were employed in May 2000 and May 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available. Information on staff in post is collected as at 30 September each year. The following table shows the head count and whole-time equivalent (WTE) of physiotherapists employed in NHSScotland as at 30 September for the years 2000, 2007 and 2008. WTE adjusts head count to take account of part-time working.

  Head Count and Whole-Time Equivalent of physiotherapists* employed by NHSScotland as at 30 September 2000, 2007, and 2008

  

 
 2000
 2007
 2008


 Head count
 2,488
 3,188
 3,306


 WTE
 1,974.0
 2,527.4
 2,631.7



  Source: ISD Scotland –IR2009-000226.

  Note: *In January 2008 the workforce information published by ISD was changed to reflect the introduction of Agenda for Change. As such the figure provided for the year 2000 is for all physiotherapists and physiotherapists assistants under the old Whitley Council system. The figures for years 2007 and 2008 are for the Agenda for Change Physiotherapy job sub family. The two sets of figures are broadly comparable however please note that the Agenda for Change category includes Technical instructor staff that in previous years were shown separately.

NHS Staff

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS hospitals are cleaned by a private contractor and which are cleaned by an in-house team.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17133 on 5 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  All other NHS hospitals are cleaned by in-house teams.

NHS Staff

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it made its decision to phase out cleaning of NHS hospitals by private contractors.

Nicola Sturgeon: The basis of the decision acknowledges the key role that cleaning and other services play in the delivery of clinical services. The Scottish Government therefore believes that NHS Scotland staff should be responsible for the direct delivery of these services thus removing or reducing scope for complexity at the interface between contractor and the NHS.

  It is clear that when cleaning services are provided by NHS staff, it is easier to manage them and they can be better integrated. That means better patient care, a more seamless joining up of services and the ability to vary such services within hospitals, particularly cleaning services, when required.

NHS Staff

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be to the NHS of phasing out private cleaning services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The basis of the decision was to ensure better patient care, a more seamless joining up of services and the ability to vary cleaning and other services within hospitals when required. Our health boards are responsible for demonstrating value for money through sharing best practice, benchmarking with others and delivering on performance targets. The main cost element in the provision of cleaning services is staff and for some time now the rates of pay and other terms and conditions whether provided in house are broadly comparable.

  I refer the member to answer to question S3W-16361 on 25 September 2008, for more detailed information. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Cost has therefore not been a key driver behind this development.

NHS Waiting Times

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for patients referred to pain clinics by general practitioners, broken down by NHS board.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for patients referred to pain clinics by consultants and specialists, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Most pain clinics provide services to patients in an outpatient setting. Information about outpatient waiting times is collected centrally at speciality level only and does not differentiate between different types of clinics within the specialty. Consequently, the information requested is not available centrally.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that no data remains on IT equipment that has been used in the NHS and that such equipment is resold or deployed across other public sector bodies.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is responsible for providing an Information Security Policy Statement and Information Security Policy Principles covering authority, accountability, assurance and awareness. Chief executives in NHS boards are responsible for implementing the policy and for ensuring that all staff comply with the policy. The key principles of the Information Security policy are as follows:

  Information will be protected against unauthorised access.

  Confidentiality of information required through regulatory and legislative requirements will be assured.

  Integrity of information will be maintained.

  Information will be available to authorised personnel as and when required.

  Business continuity plans will be produced, maintained and tested

  Information security training will be available to all staff.

  Disposal policies, including ensuring that no data remains on IT equipment, are an operational responsibility for each NHS board.

Ophthalmic Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children received an eye test on entry to primary school, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: Under the current programme for child health screening and surveillance, outlined in  Health for All Children (Hall 4) issued as guidance to NHSScotland in 2005, it is recommended that children receive a pre-school vision screen (at three to five years of age). Where a pre-school vision screening programme is not in place, it is recommended vision testing is undertaken in primary 1.

  Some NHS boards use local systems to record vision screening results and therefore data for these boards are not available centrally. Information on pre-school and primary 1 vision checks is available for NHS boards which record results on the national child health systems. The latest available information on the percentage of children in primary 1 who received a vision check prior to school entry or in primary 1 is for school year 2007-08 and is shown in table 1 by local authority area. NHS boards are at different stages of implementation of pre-school vision screening and this may have affected the coverage figures in some areas whilst these programmes are put in place.

  Table 1: Number and Percentage of children in Primary 1 in School Year 2007-08 who received a vision check, by Local Authority

  

 Local Authority1
 No. of children in Primary 1 in school year 2007-082
 No. of Children who Received a Vision Check in Primary 13
 No. of children who Received a Vision Check Pre-School4


 Total5
 26,888
 17,314
 4,706


 Angus
 1,133
 886
 11


 Borders
 1,171
 316
 726


 Clackmannanshire
 518
 418
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,378
 71
 789


 Dundee City6
 1,370
 35
 47


 East Lothian
 1,016
 968
 4


 City of Edinburgh
 3,725
 3,207
 14


 Falkirk
 1,537
 1,364
 8


 Fife
 3,721
 1,912
 1,517


 Midlothian
 858
 823
 4


 North Lanarkshire
 3,344
 2,678
 18


 Perth and Kinross
 1,397
 1,207
 11


 South Lanarkshire
 2,617
 2,336
 59


 Stirling
 881
 771
 4


 West Lothian
 1,933
 74
 1,494


 Western Isles
 289
 248
 -



  

 Local Authority1
 No. of Children who Received a Vision Check both in Primary 1 and Pre-School
 Total no. of Children who Received a Vision Check
 Percentage of Children who Received a Vision Check


 Total5
 896
 21,124
 78.6


 Angus
 4
 893
 78.8


 Borders
 74
 968
 82.7


 Clackmannanshire
 -
 418
 80.7


 Dumfries and Galloway
 26
 834
 60.5


 Dundee City6
 2
 80
 5.8


 East Lothian
 3
 969
 95.4


 City of Edinburgh
 11
 3,210
 86.2


 Falkirk
 3
 1,369
 89.1


 Fife
 670
 2,759
 74.1


 Midlothian
 2
 825
 96.2


 North Lanarkshire
 11
 2,685
 80.3


 Perth and Kinross
 6
 1,212
 86.8


 South Lanarkshire
 55
 2,340
 89.4


 Stirling
 3
 772
 87.6


 West Lothian
 26
 1,542
 79.8


 Western Isles
 -
 248
 85.8



  Source: ISD Scotland, CHSP School, May and November 2008, CHSP Pre-School, November 2008. Ref: IR2009-00196

  Notes:

  1. Local authority is derived from the child’s postcode area of residence.

  2. Figures relate to children who were in primary 1 in school year 2007-08 as at May 2008.

  3. Number of children who were in primary 1 in school year 2007-08 as at May 2008, and who have a Primary 1 vision screening record on CHSP School as at November 2008.

  4. Number of children who were in Primary 1 in school year 2007-08 as at May 2008, and who have a pre-school vision screening record on CHSP pre-school as at November 2008.

  5. Data are not available for the following NHS boards: NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.

  6. Dundee City local authority implemented universal pre-school vision screening in August 2007. Prior to this, universal vision screening was carried out in primary 1. In this transition year, universal vision checks for children in primary 1 in school year 2007-08 were not carried out.

Ophthalmic Services

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that people in the Scottish Borders are able to receive their entitlement to free ophthalmic services if their nearest optician is in England.

Shona Robison: NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for making arrangements to secure the provision of the free NHS eye examination within their area.

  NHS Borders has made arrangements for people to receive the free NHS eye examination conveniently at ophthalmic practices within their area, including at Duns, Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles and Selkirk.

Pre-School Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what parliamentary scrutiny was undertaken prior to implementation of the new grading system for nursery schools.

Nicola Sturgeon: The grading system is an operational matter for the Care Commission. It does not of course replace any of the statutory requirements or the provisions of the National Care Standards. It enables the Care Commission to exercise its responsibilities in a proportionate way.

  The grading system was introduced in April 2008, and applies to all the care services that the commission regulates, including day care of children. It was piloted with 170 care services across the spectrum of regulated services in 2007.

  The grading system is part of the commission’s three-year Regulation for Improvement Project. Following widespread public consultation, the Project was a substantial component of the Care Commission’s 2006-09 Corporate Plan, which received ministerial approval in March 2006. Its aim was to achieve targeted and proportionate regulation of care in Scotland.

  Ministers have received regular progress reports on the Project at their routine six-monthly meetings with the Care Commission’s Convener and Chief Executive.

Pre-School Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with parents prior to defining the categories of care by nursery providers.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Care Commission’s grading system was introduced in April 2008 following extensive consultation with people who use care services and with care providers. It was piloted in 170 services during 2007.

  The grading system does not replace any of the statutory requirements or the provisions of the National Care Standards. It enables the Care Commission to exercise its responsibilities in a proportionate way.

Prison Service

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed at HMP Aberdeen.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of staff employed at HMP Aberdeen as at 3 February 2009 is 120.05 full-time equivalent.

Prison Service

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed at HMP Peterhead.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of staff employed at HMP Peterhead as at 3 February 2009 is 174.60 full-time equivalent.

Prison Service

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be required to staff fully the proposed new prison in Peterhead.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is no information available at this time on staffing arrangements for the proposed HMP Grampian. This will depend on the eventual design of the prison and negotiations with the SPS trade unions.

Rail Network

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the reopening of Reston railway station.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision of rail services to Reston and East Linton is not one of the priced options secured under the ScotRail franchise extension. However, the option to operate additional services between Edinburgh and Dunbar is part of the franchise extension consultation being carried out by Transport Scotland. If implemented, that option will trigger a study into the feasibility of a Dunbar hourly service and this will also examine the possibility of further services.

  In considering the provision of new stations, ministers must balance the desire to attract new users against the impact on network capacity, and the needs of existing passengers whilst taking account of value for money and affordability.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it predicts the growth in (a) direct and (b) indirect employment in the renewable energy sector will be in each of the next five years, also broken down by sector.

Jim Mather: Our Renewable Energy Action Plan, to be published in the summer, will include an analysis of economic development opportunities and future potential for growth across the renewable energy sector.

  Estimates set out in the UK Renewable Energy Strategy consultation suggest the potential for 160,000 renewable energy related jobs UK wide over the next decade. The Scottish Government believes that Scotland has the potential to create at least 16,000 such jobs.

Respite Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the commitment to deliver an additional 10,000 respite weeks for carers by 2010-11.

Shona Robison: We have agreed with COSLA that local authorities will provide an additional 2,000 respite weeks in 2008-09, an additional 6,000 weeks in 2009-10 and an additional 10,000 weeks in 2010-11. These additional weeks will be measured using the baseline of Audit Scotland’s Statutory Performance Indicators figures on respite in 2007-08.

  The Scottish Government provided £4million to local authorities, in addition to the resources set out in the local government settlement, to enable them to deliver this commitment.

  We have agreed with COSLA that they will monitor the delivery of the additional respite weeks and will report to the Scottish Government with total Scotland-wide figures.

  The Audit Scotland Performance Indicator figures showing the baseline for each local authority for 2007-08 were published in December 2008. COSLA officials are liaising with local authorities regarding the arrangements for collecting information to monitor the delivery of the commitment.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated completion date is for improvements to the A96 at the (a) Inveramsay Bridge and (b) Haudagain roundabout.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory work has been commissioned for improvement works on the A96 at the (a) Inveramsay Bridge and (b) Haudagain roundabout.

Stewart Stevenson: The Inveramsay Bridge was recognised in the Strategic Transport Projects Review and will be taken into account when a programme of improvements to the A96 is developed. The Inveramsay Bridge is the responsibility of Network Rail; however a safety barrier is to be installed south east of the bridge in the spring at an estimated cost of £73,000. Further structural maintenance proposed north west of the bridge to be undertaken in the financial year 2009-10 at an estimated cost of £175,000 .

  Proposals for improvements to Haudagain Roundabout will be worked up following confirmation of the route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are for improvements to the A96 at the (a) Inveramsay Bridge and (b) Haudagain roundabout.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost breakdowns are for improvements to the A96 at the (a) Inveramsay Bridge and (b) Haudagain roundabout.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20136 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  Cost estimates will be developed as the schemes progress.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are for land purchases that will be required for the improvements to the A96 at the Inveramsay Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20136 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  Land estimates will be developed as the scheme progresses.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are for the A90 Balmedie-Tipperty dual carriageway.

Stewart Stevenson: The current cost estimate for the scheme is in the region of £51 to £64 million, exclusive of VAT.

Roads

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used for work on the A90 Balmedie-Tipperty dual carriageway.

Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated that the scheme will funded by conventional means, such as a Design Build Fixed Price Lump Sum.

Scottish Government Finance

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many borrowing applications it has made to the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Chancellor of the Exchequer under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings or discussions Scottish ministers or officials have had with UK ministers or officials to discuss borrowing applications under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been initiated or consulted on regarding the use of Section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to borrowing under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 to fund capital or revenue items under current budget proposals.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether borrowing under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 has been considered for the purpose of funding part of the Forth Replacement Crossing or improvements in the trunk road network.

John Swinney: The power for the Scottish Government to borrow set out in section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 makes clear such borrowing is for use on a temporary basis to cover the Scottish Government’s cash requirements if that becomes necessary for any reason.

  No such requirements have arisen since devolution and consequently the powers have not been used, nor have any applications been made to the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Given the nature of the power as it stands, it would not be possible to use it to borrow in order to invest in public capital works in Scotland or support resource expenditure in excess of expenditure limits set by the Treasury.

  The Scottish Government continues to believe that Scotland’s government should have the ability to borrow and this would require legislative change.

  To date there has been no official meetings with the Secretary of State or Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the topic although the Scottish Government has requested meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a number of occasions to begin the process of securing further fiscal powers for Scotland.

Scottish Government Finance

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the possible use of the £500 million loan provision available to it via the National Loans Fund under section 67 of the Scotland Act 1998.

John Swinney: The power for the Scottish Government to borrow is set out in section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 which makes clear such borrowing is for use on a temporary basis to cover the Scottish Government’s cash requirements if that becomes necessary for any reason. Under section 67 of the act, the Treasury may issue to the Secretary of State out of the National Loans Fund such sums as are required by him for making loans under section 66.

  However, no such requirements have arisen since devolution and consequently the powers have not been used. Given the nature of the power, it would not be possible to use it to borrow in order to invest in public capital works in Scotland or support resource expenditure in excess of expenditure limits set by the Treasury.

  The Scottish Government continues to believe that such powers should be made available by the UK Government though this would require legislative change.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate to appoint a serving politician as chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Fiona Hyslop: Mr Houston was appointed as Chair of the SQA on merit. This is for the wealth of experience he brings from a range of senior roles he has held, along with his strong and proven leadership abilities. The appointment process was carried out in accordance with the OCPAS (Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland) Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments and was certified as such by an independent OCPAS assessor.

Single Outcome Agreements

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the drafts of the second-phase single outcome agreements will be submitted in February 2009.

John Swinney: In accordance with the guidance issued in October 2008, Community Planning Partnerships are working towards submitting their draft single outcome agreements to the Scottish Government by the end of February 2009.

Single Outcome Agreements

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the second-phase single outcome agreements will be based on the revised guidance issued in October 2008.

John Swinney: Yes. Second-phase single outcome agreements will be based on revised guidance issued in October 2008.

Single Outcome Agreements

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an analysis of the interim reports of progress made in implementing first-phase single outcome agreements in April 2009.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20069 on 30 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .